Brussels, 30 April 2026, The Santa Marta conference marks a clear inflection point in global climate diplomacy, signalling that the end of the fossil era is now a central political reality. For the first time, governments, civil society and frontline communities have gathered around a shared objective: phasing out fossil fuels in a just, orderly, and equitable manner.
Against a backdrop of geopolitical instability and violence, driven by fossil fuel interests, the conference underscored the growing recognition that dependence on fossil fuels is not only a major climate risk, but a core economic and security vulnerability.
Civil society played a defining role at the conference, with the People’s Summit and the People’s Declaration demonstrating a decisive societal mandate for a fossil-free future. At a time of multilateral turbulence, it was also notable that a number of European countries, including co-hosts Netherlands, were positively engaged in these initial discussions.
Chiara Martinelli, Director at CAN Europe said:
“Santa Marta shows that momentum for a fossil fuel phase-out is no longer an abstract concept, it is now politically and socially unavoidable. The political space is expanding rapidly given current geopolitical events, but governments must now translate this into time-bound, science-aligned action to end the fossil fuel era, without delay. If the EU is serious about aligning with science, it must now move beyond general commitments and establish clear, binding fossil fuel phase-out dates and pathways to achieve those.”
EU rhetoric must align with domestic action
While the EU engaged constructively in Santa Marta, significant contradictions remain between its international positioning and domestic policies – especially with regards to the lack of clear, binding fossil fuel phase-out dates.
The credibility gap is further exposed by the announcements this week of potential new domestic fossil fuel projects in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, justified in the context of energy security. This dual-track approach, advocating for global phase-out while expanding domestic production, undermines the integrity of the EU’s climate contributions.
Initial signals, but what about delivery?
The conference delivered a set of announcements that signal increased political willingness to address the structural drivers of fossil fuel dependence. In most areas though, implementation was left still undecided. Highlights of the discussions include:
Fossil fuel windfall taxes:
Governments expressed concern over extraordinary fossil fuel profits during periods of crisis, reinforcing calls to move beyond temporary windfall taxes toward more structural, coordinated approaches. This should include exploring permanent taxation frameworks that support a systemic shift towards renewable energy.
The phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies:
There was a clear recognition in Colombia that fossil fuel subsidies – amounting to over a trillion dollars annually – continue to distort markets and delay the transition. While momentum is increasing, governments have yet to commit to time-bound pathways for their phase-out.
Financing the just transition:
A central theme of discussions was the persistent financing gap for countries facing debt constraints. Without addressing this imbalance, progress on fossil fuel phase out will remain uneven and insufficient. While predictable climate finance is necessary, conversations in Colombia centred around Just Energy Transition Partnerships, debt swaps and carbon markets, which will do little to create the fiscal space that said countries need.
The establishment of the Science Panel for the Global Energy Transition:
The proposed panel has the potential to provide actionable guidance for governments. The ultimate value, however, will depend on its mandate, governance, and how its findings are operationalised. It will require a comprehensive science and knowledge approach, including the consideration of information from diverse knowledge systems such as indigenous and local expertise, to have legitimacy and make effective recommendations.
Global non-proliferation initiatives and governance:
The growing landscape of initiatives complementary to the Paris Agreement reflect frustration with slow progress in formal negotiations. This opened the possibility up to a potential fossil fuel non-proliferation framework or treaty. The challenge is to ensure these efforts reinforce the multilateral system and translate into coordinated action.
On Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS):
Co-host Colombia advocated for the inclusion of a discussion on ISDS in the high level Segment. The synthesis of government positions also noted that ISDS is a barrier to fossil fuel phaseout, and that change is needed to ensure countries policy space for transition measures is preserved.
On emerging national Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels (TAFF) roadmaps:
In conjunction with the Santa Marta conference, a number of nations submitted roadmaps to the COP31 Brazilian Presidency TAFF process. France’s submission consolidated existing policies, stating time-bound phase-out commitments for coal, oil, and gas. The EU submission fell short on binding commitments and relies heavily on loan-based international support. Norway’s submission unfortunately committed the nation to “being a stable and predictable supplier of oil and gas”.
Looking ahead
The Santa Marta conference has established a clear political signal and institutional foundation. Looking ahead to the next follow-up conference in Tuvalu in 2027, with the incoming EU Presidency of Ireland confirmed as the co-host underlining strong European engagement, there is a clear opportunity to build on this momentum.
James Trinder, International Climate Policy Coordinator at CAN Europe said:
“The next phase must focus on delivery. This should include the EU setting concrete timelines for fossil fuel phase-out and advancing structural transformation that ends proliferation of fossil fuels, including windfall taxation on fossil profits, an end to fossil subsidies, and addressing trade and fiscal barriers to phase-out. The next target must be a global TAFF roadmap that supports a systemic shift towards locally-led, equitable access to renewable energy, together with these structural measures. The required direction of travel is increasingly clear. The question now is whether governments will move at the speed and scale required.”
ENDS
Notes to the editor:
- CAN Europe’s detailed expectations towards the Santa Marta Conference on Just Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (March 2026)
- The People’s Declaration for a Rapid, Equitable, and Just Transition for a Fossil-Free Future
- CAN Europe & partners policy brief: Why Europe Must Address ISDS as a Systemic Barrier to a Just Transition (April 2026)
- Co-Host Takeaways On The First Conference On Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels
For more information and media requests:
Tomas Spragg Nilsson, Senior Communications Coordinator, CAN Europe
tomas.spraggnilsson@caneurope.org / +46707656392